Movies Watched -- Thieves Like Us (1974)

123 minute running time so 30 minutes too long … another Robert Altman movie from the 70s, a re-make of They Live By Night (which is a classic Nick Ray movie I own) … Shelley Duvall plays a good “picayune” dimwit “Keechie” and Keith Carradine is good as lucky crook “Bowie” … this wasn’t terrible, but it was just too darn long. John Farr recommended it for it’s “breezy, old-timey feel,” but it was just too darn long for me. Breaking Chickasaw out of prison was a pretty classic scene though, as was throwing him out of the car when he was complaining too much, I laughed hard there.

I already am mixed up with you.

Zippo Armor Pattern Design No. 49291

360 degree MultiCut Black Ice® with crystal

Movies Watched -- Le Havre (2011)

In French. 93 minute running time so the perfect length. This was a cute story but too cute. Every shot was carefully posed, the colors, the lighting, the framing, all precious, all capital A.R.T. Yes, it’s heartwarming, yes, the humanity, but no, it’s too contrived and forced for me. Farr recommended it but I say pass.

Movies Watched -- Training Day (2001)

122 minute running time so at least 20 minutes too long and felt like an hour too long … I can never buy Denzel as a tough, street smart guy … he has perfect teeth and skin and is super articulate, so it’s like, come on, give me a break … the only part that Denzel can believably play for me is a college professor. He’s like a “safe” black man for Hollywood.

This started out sort of annoying then took a very dark turn and then turned ultra-violent and just ridiculous. It was no good. Ethan Hawke’s imperfect teeth interested me and I found him a more believable character than Denzel’s. And it was way way too long. And there was an unbelievable amount of cussing.

This was not a John Farr recommendation … some guys in my Discord room recommended this and I won’t be taking any further recommendations from them.

Movies Watched -- Onibaba (1964)

In Japanese. 103 minute running time so a good length. This was an unusual one and I sort of enjoyed it .. it’s true that I fast forwarded through the endless rustling grass shots, but I liked the honesty of portraying these savages during wartime and the raw sexuality and the triangular relationship and the female jealousy and bare breasts and the demon mask. I guess I’ll give it a green-go, as did John Farr. I didn’t know at the time I got it that Farr also recommended it, so I was suprised when I saw that he did.

Laundry day

Movies Watched -- Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

127 minute running time so at least 30 minutes too long. It’s kind of a cute story and star-studded with aged fuddy-duddies, but I couldn’t get into it and it was way way too long. I loved young Lauren Bacall, but not old Lauren Bacall. Only Jacqueline Bisset at age 30 looked good, the rest were relics. This was a John Farr reco, but I say pass.

Albert Finney as Poirot

Movies Watched -- Images (1972)

101 minute running time, but I didn’t make it too far in before going to fast forward. It didn’t grab me and it had a 70s vibe where I knew it would be a slog. It’s about a woman who is cracking up, I guess. The star is beautiful and had nice floppy breasts, but there wasn’t much else to hold my attention. John Farr wrote, “The movie's bleak, opaque quality will not be to all tastes, but psychological horror fans should pounce.” Wrong, don’t pounce my fellow psychological horror fans, run away.

Best Thriller / Mystery Movies of the 2010s

These are the best thriller / mystery movies of the 2010s according to John Farr. I’ve arranged them chronologically below:

English-language movies:

1. Animal Kingdom (2010)

2. Drive (2011)

3. Margin Call (2011)

4. Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

5. Take Shelter (2011)

6. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)

7. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

8. Argo (2012)

9. Mud (2012)

10. American Hustle (2013)

11. Captain Phillips (2013)

12. Prisoners (2013)

13. The Widower (2013)

14. A Most Violent Year (2014)

15. Foxcatcher (2014)

16. Bridge of Spies (2015)

17. Room (2015)

18. The Gift (2015)

19. All the Money in the World (2017)

20. Personal Shopper (2017)

21. Sweet Country (2017)

22. Mr. Jones (2019)

23. Queen and Slim (2019)

---

Foreign-language movies:

1. In a Better World (2010) (Danish)

2. Incendies (2010) (French)

3. Of Gods and Men (2010) (French)

4. Poetry (2010) (Korean)

5. The King of Devil's Island (2010) (Norwegian)

6. White Material (2010) (French)

7. Aurora (2011) (Romanian)

8. Bullhead (2011) (Dutch)

9. Elena (2011) (Russian)

10. Policeman (2011) (Hebrew)

11. The Skin I Live In (2011) (Spanish)

12. A Hijacking (2012) (Danish)

13. No (2012) (Spanish)

14. Bastards (2013) (French)

15. Stranger by the Lake (2014) (French)

16. Elle (2016) (French)

17. The Handmaiden (2016) (Korean)

18. The Salesman (2016) (Farsi)

19. The Woman Who Left (2016) (Tagalog)

20. Transit (2017) (German)

21. A White, White Day (2019) (Icelandic)

22. The Traitor (2019) (Italian)

Movies Watched -- Frenzy (1972)

116 minute running time so at least 20 minutes too long … very late Hitchcock and not up to his usual standard … it’s not terrible but it’s also not good enough to recommend … the best part was the comedy between the Chief Inspector and his wife (Vivien Merchant) at dinner … this was a John Farr recommendation.

You’re my type of woman…

Movies Watched -- Maria Full of Grace (2004)

In Spanish. 100 minute running time so a perfect length … sort of a scared straight movie, you don’t want to be a drug mule, kids … starred a beautiful Colombian girl … it wasn’t a perfect movie, but it’s good enough to get a green-go, I enjoyed it and loved the ending. The girl had guts and should become a solid Murkan citizen in time. This was a John Farr recommendation, and I second it.